Lubricant-retaining means for compressors



Nov. 30 1926. 1,608,528

I 3 w. RAYMOND amen tor p but it will be understoodthat the drawing is' Patented Nov. 30, 1 926.

iUNlTED STATES 1,608,528 PATENT OFFICE.

WARD BAYMONDyOF' EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PENNSYLVANIA PUMP & COMPRESSOR COMPANY, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 01 PENN- SYLVANIA.

Application filed November 25, 1925. Serial No. 71,469.

Thi inventipn relates to compressors and in particular to compressors operated by a.

gasolcne or other internal combustion engine directly attached thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compressor driven by an internal combustion or other form of motor with means for preventing lubricating oil from being thrown off from the main shaft bearmgs.

One feature of importance is that the crank case of the compressor is provided with a conduit connected with a space having a partial vacuum.

Another feature of importance is that the crank case of the compressor is connected by means of a conduit to the intake of the inte'rnal combustion engine connected to and driving the compressor.

It is therefore a primary object of the in ventionto connect the crank case of the compressor with the intake of the engine with intercommunicating means so that the pressure within the compressor crank case will be maintained at a lower pressure than the surrounding atmosphere. There will be no tendency therefore for the pressure within this crank case to exceed the pressure of the atmosphere and thus force lubricant from the main bearings or other slight openings in the crank case.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in'.the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown my invention embodied in an opposed cylinder type of compressor,

not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an internal combustion engine driven compressor having1 the present invention applied thereto, an Y Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partly'in section, of the part shown in Fi 1.

In the abote mentioned drawing, I have shown but one embodiment of the invention which is now thought to be preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, and in its broadest aspect, my invention comprises the following principal parts: first, a compressor such as thatof theopposed cylinder type shown in the drawing; second, an internal combustion engine having its main driving shaft directly coupled to the crank shaft of the compressor; third, a conduit connected at one end of the crank case of the compressor and at its opposite end to the intake manifold of the engme. a

In compressors of the single acting ty e having trunk pistons thepressure within the cylin ers created during the compressing stroke is liable to cause the fluid beingeom pressed to leak ast the pistons into the crank case. 'As t is space is usually closed to retain the lubricant a pressure above atmosphere is created withln this space. As'

the only outlet for the fluid trapped within the crank case is through the main hearings or through other openings due to inaccurate fitting of the parts, it will be seen that in passing through these hearings or openings the fluid will carry lubricant with 1t, thus interfering with the proper lubrication of the bearings and causing a loss of the lubricant. Also as the rotation of the crank shaft .is rapid this lubricant will be violently thrown from the crank shaft at the outer endsof the main bearings. In order to eliminate this loss and annoyance, I provide theretore a conduit leading at one end into the crank case and at its opposite end into the intake' of the engine at a point where the pressure isslightly below atmosphere.

Referring more in detail to thefigures of the drawing, I show at a compressor hav-- ing two cylinders 11 positioned in opposed relation to each other and attached to a centralcr'ank case 12.. Onopposite sides of the crank case 12 are main bearings 13. within which the crank shaft 14 is rotatably supported. As shown in Fig. l-the pistons are of trunk form and directly attached pivpdsite ends attached to the crank shaftfl l.

otally to connecting rods'16 having their op- Directly attached to the crank-shaft 14 is the main shaft 17 of an internal combustion engine 18. On one side of this engine 18 is an intake 19 through which air is admitted to the manifold 20 after the air has been mixed with the gasolene within the carburetor 21.

Connected to this intake 19 is one end of the conduit 22. The other end of the conduit 22 enters the space Within the crank case 12 of the compressor 10;

It will be seen from the above that during operation of the engine 18 the inrush of air into the manifold 20through the intake 19 causes a material reduction of pressure therein dependent upon the point in the intake 19, the speed of the engine 18, and so forth. This reduced pressure will therefore draw air through the conduit 22 from the crank case 12 and thus prevent the pressure therein from rising. Also the space within the crank case 12 will be maintained at a slightly reduced pressure so that lubricant therein will not be forced out through the hearings or other openings but air will flow into the crank case to replace that drawn through the conduit 22. Lubricant within the bearings 13 will therefore be retained or forced constantly toward the crank case 12 rather'than being forced outwardly.

What I claim is:

1. A compressor unit comprising in combination a com ressor having a crankshaft, an internal com ustion engine having a main shaft directly connected to the crank shaft of said compressor, an enclosed crankcase for said compressor, an intake for said internal combustion engine operating at a pressure substantially below atmosphere and a constantly open conduit directly connecting the intake of said'engine and the space within the crank case of said compressol', whereby the pressure within said crank case will e maintained below atmosphere during operation and oil within said crank case will be prevented from escaping.

2, A compressor unit comprising in combination a compressor, 0 linders on said compressorhaving trunk pistons therein, a crank shaft therefor, an enclosed crank case for said compressor, main hearings for said crank shaft formed in said crank case, an internal combustion engine having its main shaft drivingly connected to the crank shaft of said compressor, an intake for said engine operating at less than atmospheric pressure, and a constantly open conduit; directly connected at one end to the space within said crank case and having its opposite end dircctlyconnected to a space below atmospheric pressure in the intake for said internal combustion engine, whereby the pressure within said crankcase will be maintained below atmosphere during operation and oil within said crank case will be prevented from escaping.

In testimony whereof, I hereto aflix my signature.

WARD RAYMOND. 

